Localising Cadence made me understand I was influenced by the East more than I consciously realised...

But also we're getting real close to shipped now!

It only took 12 years, but I have just implemented THE most important feature in Cadence...

#PetTheCat

There are now almost 60 levels! Translation:

We have a video game folks! 🎉

I'm hard on myself, but wouldn't be possible without features I started mucking with years ago. It's edifying to see my instincts come good - they just needed generous brain-in-the-cave immersion time to crystallise!

I wrestled the blank canvas so many times over the last months

But one happy accident at a time, I teased out new patterns and crafted a journey that ties together so much of what only existed as ambient potential before.

My favourite levels weren't designed, so much as discovered.

More levels had always been a "later" problem.

Of course, this was naive. Level design is an intricate art, later arrived and I had to confront that my programmer brain was avoiding the problem. I knew how I wanted the arc to feel, but I wasn't really sure how to execute it...

Simple example: for ages Cadence couldn't competently tell you how many levels you'd completed 😅

The new overworld menu now does that job well - but it's table stakes. It doesn't move the needle or make people care, but they do care if it's missing...

Them: Just release your game, it's done right?
Me:

This is the most conceptually challenging tile in Cadence. Have been musing for years if I should even build it, and how on earth to telegraph it to users.

Fitting the last piece of content is my best work to date - really happy with the polish here.

Being an adult: having the money to buy fancy Lego.

Also being an adult: waiting a year before finding the time to start building it...

I need to get over the idea I'm only capable of "programmer art". But also pulling off something you have no rights to is pure magic... perhaps I should start believing I can't program to recapture that beginners joy?

Anyway, can't close Blender, because how cute is this guy I made?!? 🥹

The time line speaketh:

Producing promotional material is my anathema, but seeing Cadence taking its final form is slightly thrilling...